Crime Watch

Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sunday, June 15, at 4:50 p.m.

SMPD officers were working foot patrol on the Santa Monica Pier when they were flagged down by pier and Harbor Service Officers. The harbor officers told them there was a male who appeared very drunk and therefore unable to care for himself. The police officers saw the male as he tried to walk into Pacific Park. The male tripped and almost fell on his face. Officers noticed he was staggering, had bloodshot watery eyes and his speech was thick and slurred when they tried talking to him. The man had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his mouth as he swayed back and forth. At one point the man tried to walk away from the officers. The officers placed him under arrest for drunk in public. The suspect was identified as Martin Garcia, 21, or Mexico. Bail was set at $250

Friday, June 13, at 9:30 p.m.

Officers were dispatched to Burger King (1919 Pico Blvd.) regarding a man who was causing a disturbance inside the restaurant. Dispatch told the officers that that the man was screaming and becoming aggressive. Officers made contact with him, who now was sleeping at one of the tables. Officers noticed he made a large mess by smearing food all over the table. At the request of the manager, officers asked the man to leave the establishment because he was causing a disturbance. The man began to act belligerent with the officers and they could not understand him because he was mumbling unintelligible words. Officers could smell a strong odor of an alcohol on him. The officers believed the man was intoxicated and unable to care for himself and possibly a danger to others. He was placed under arrest. The suspect was identified as Robert John Railton, 42, of Venice. Bail was set at $250.

Saturday, June 14

A Public Service Officer broadcasted on the radio that a homeless man in the 1500 block of Palisades Park assaulted him. Third Street Bicycle Officers immediately responded to assist. Officers met with the victim, who pointed at the suspect and told them that the man tried to kick and punch him. The victim said the suspect became angry after the safety officer told another park patron that he was not able to smoke while in the park. The suspect then charged at the safety officer and tried to kick him in the groin area and punch him. The suspect walked away when the safety officer called for police assistance. The suspect walked across the Broadway bridge, where officers were able to intercept him on the beach side of the bridge. He was placed under arrest for the assault. Officers then discovered that the suspect was also on probation. The suspect was identified as Richard Aaron Avila, 41, of Santa Monica. Bail was set at $10,000.

Friday, June 13, at 2:37 a.m.

Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 2600 block of Kansas Avenue, regarding two males who were trying to remove a fire extinguisher from the building. Upon arrival, officers met with the caller who told them the suspects had left. The caller gave the officers the description of the suspect. The officers drove toward the direction the suspect had fled and shortly after, noticed a male matching the suspect‚Äôs description. The man was standing on the side of a utility truck and it appeared as if he was trying to force open one of the compartment doors. As one of the officers approached him, he quickly armed himself with a metal pipe that was lying beside him. The suspect held up the pipe in an aggressive manner and refused to drop it after several commands. The suspect eventually dropped the pipe and was taken into custody. The officers contacted the owner of the utility. He told the officers that he did not give anyone permission to go into his truck, and he did not recognize the suspect at all. The truck‚Äôs door handle was damaged by who they believed was the suspect. Officers later discover that the suspect was on probation for a misdemeanor offense. The suspect was identified as Tucker Joe Duran, 22, of Venice. Bail was set at $10,000.